As I lay in bed last night waiting for my heart to stop pounding after that Boise State victory in the Fiesta Bowl, I couldn't help but think two things. First: was that the best game I've ever watched? Frankly, I'm not sure but in this world of short attention spans, it ranks right up there. Second, and more interestingly to me, I just couldn't shake the notion that this game would never happen in the NFL. It's just the nature of the college game that can lead to these crazy matchups that make no sense. Nobody is really that big of an underdog in the pros because the league has created so much parity. So, yes you're surprised when Oakland wins a game, but at the end of the season, everybody wins a couple of games and everybody loses a couple. But BSU/OU last night you had an established powerhouse from an established conference playing a team epitomized by their quarterback. A redneck who outwardly discusses his seeing a shrink and has some ill-advised facial hair. It's a rag-tag bunch, they're scrappy, don't count them out, they're the underdogs... oh and they're undefeated. Still.
Having watched so many more NFL than college games this year I was ready to give up in the game after that horrendous interception thrown by the Z Man (as I'm told he likes to be called) I
was considering writing a "most heartbreaking loss ever?" post. 18 points is a helluva lot to blow on the verge of an historic season. But, with the college football rules allowing the clock to stop on a first down Boise had time to drive down the field and get within striking range of the end zone. In the NFL they would have run out of time on the clock and had to throw a couple of hail mary's. Why doesn't the NFL have this rule? Isn't it unfair to watch the clock run out while some chubby referee takes his time spotting the ball? Thus, it eliminates any play not right next to the sidelines and your only chance is the defense completely falling asleep. Bah, I say.
Having watched so many more NFL than college games this year I was ready to give up in the game after that horrendous interception thrown by the Z Man (as I'm told he likes to be called) I
was considering writing a "most heartbreaking loss ever?" post. 18 points is a helluva lot to blow on the verge of an historic season. But, with the college football rules allowing the clock to stop on a first down Boise had time to drive down the field and get within striking range of the end zone. In the NFL they would have run out of time on the clock and had to throw a couple of hail mary's. Why doesn't the NFL have this rule? Isn't it unfair to watch the clock run out while some chubby referee takes his time spotting the ball? Thus, it eliminates any play not right next to the sidelines and your only chance is the defense completely falling asleep. Bah, I say. Finally, how great was the lateral for the TD, WR pass for TD, Statue of Liberty play sequence? I know announcers like to suck off NFL coaches who call a trick play on 2nd and 1 in the third quarter, but it takes some serious balls to call those plays on 4th and the ballgame twice then a two point conversion for the ballgame. Just going for the conversion takes some serious cahones. I promise you there is not a coach in the pro game who has it in them to do it. It's becoming an old stodgy game and losingsome of the flare that really seperated it from football. Great game last night and substantially better than any pro game I've seen all year. Congrats blue fielders.
9 comments:
I was about to write a Boise State lovefest post of my own, but I think I'll confine it to a comment. Best. Game. Ever. To add to Gage's summary: Hook and lateral on 4th down(!) to tie it after a devastating INT for a TD. RB pass on 4th down(!) to pull within 1 in OT. Statue of Liberty play to win(!) instead of tie. All after blowing an 18 point lead. I'm glad that with about 5 minutes to go, the commentators felt the need to talk about how Boise State wasn't pulling any trick plays... I guess they were just lulling the Sooners into a false sense of security.
Bob Stoops' look of shock and consternation was priceless during this whole series of events. I guess he can go home and roll around in some of his $3.45 million salary and feel a little bit better.
Games like these wash away my cynicism about college sports for just a little bit. Yet it's just more proof that college football needs a playoff system. An undefeated team shouldn't go home being crowned only the champs of the lousy Fiesta Bowl after beating the #7 team in the country.
I decided last night that I didnt give a shit about either team so I watched the entire second season of Entorage instead. Everyone in my office won't shut up about the game. Im sad...
I agree with you guys. That was the greatest game ever. Has the hook and lateral worked in the last 20 years? I'd like someone to do some research and figure out when the last time that play went for a touchdown.
Poor pitiful stupid Bob. Hopefully you didn't sit through the Louisville/Wake crapfest just to make up for Monday.
Did any of you catch the discussion about the game on College Gameday? It literally blew my mind, maybe even more so than the crazy events of the game. All the "analysts" we're going out of their way trying to come up with an explanation of how this game was a perfect example of how NCAA Football DOESN'T need a playoff system because the little guys CAN'T beat the big guys.
Seriously, what the hell? I hate ESPN.
hook and ladder
i'm fucking serious
both/and:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hook_and_lateral_play_%28football%29
i have a feeling this is like my dad's crusade to convince people it's "champing at the bit" instead of "chomping at the bit," when in reality both are right.
potato potatoe.
al hoop
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